Color-printing machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1;

D. E. KEMPSTER. COLOR PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 361,703. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

I v Q WT E55 5.- 'I\ze 1-D??- zzd/m flm wig/m.

N. PETERS. Fhulu-Ulhogmphnr. Washington, D. c.

(No Model.)

D. HKEMPSTER.

4 sheets-sheet 2.

COLOR PRINTING MACHINE.

Patented A9126, 188g.

N. PETERS PhokoLilhng npher, Waslfinglom D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. D. E. KEMPSTER.

. COLOR PRINTING MACHINE. No. 361,703. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

\ Wh e $512 5.. l N f -d EM 2 fdw lzzu.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

-' (No Mddel.)

D E KEMPSTER 001.03 PRINTING MACHINE.

-No. 861,703. Patented Apr. 26,1887.

I .lvlvlil LEIIIzi v v N. PEIERS. Photo Lithflgnphar. Walllinglon. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL E. KEMPSTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COLOR-PRINTING MACHINE.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,703, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed December 23,1880. Serial No. 22,779. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. KEMPsTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinOolor-Printing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica-v tion. 1 My invention relates particularly to a machine and blocks for printing ornamental bands, dadoes, &c., on window-shades, but may, without material change, be adapted to other kinds of color-printing, such as car-linings, stair-coverings, table-covers, oil-cloth, wall-papers, 85c.

The invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, on which- Figure 1 represents an end elevation, showing the feeding mechanism, details of which are further shown on Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 2 represents a central longitudinal section on the line U V, shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 represents a cross-section on the line XY, shown 011 Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 represent the printing blocks; and Fig. 9 represents specimens of printed shades and dadoes, as will be further described.

A is the intermittent rotary carrier,with its printing-blocks a, a, a, afla", and a, and B is the intermittent rotary and reciprocatory color-carrier, with its color-cushions b, b, b b b and b attached.

0 is the pressure-pad, located below the carrier A; and in Figs. 1 and 3 is shown the feeding device as I use it for printing dadoes, although such may also be printed with the aid of the feeding mechanism, as represented in Fig. 2; but I prefer, .however, to arrange it as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, as by so doing I am able to print dadoes on material double the ordinary width of window-shades, or I am able to print dadoes on two strips of material side 50 by side of the ordinary width.

, The grooved cam (2 shown on the end of the upper shaft, 0, gives motion to the feeding mechanism by means of the lever f, a stud in the same having a roll on it which travels in the said grooved cam. The upper end of the lever f and forked casting D, on which the lever is suspended, are provided with several holes. f f, the proper distance apart for the pin f, on which the lever is hungjby which means a variable throw is given to said lever 6 and the material fed along for any desired length of shade, and through the reciprocating rack g and its loose pinion-gear h, with pawl h pivoted to the same, which acts on the ratchet i, that is fast on the shaft 13, on which 6 w is also fast one of the feed-rolls,i. Above the feed-roll Z is located the loosely-revolving shaft 11, on which are arranged the laterallyadj'ustable friction-wheels Z i. Said wheels may also be adjustable to and from the feed- 7o roll i", if so desired. The shaft 1' is also connected by bevel-gears 7c is to another shaft, Z, on the side of the pad G, which also has a feed-roll, Z, above which is located the looselyrevolving shaft Z, with its adjustable frictionwheels Z, in a similar manner as heretofore described, in relation to feed-roll Z. Thus it Will be seen thematerial can be fed either lengthwise or crosswise of the machine, as desired, for printing either bands or dadoes.

The number of points on the feeding-cam (Z regulates the number of times the material is fed along to every complete revolution of carriers A and B. Thus it will be seen that I am able to print dadoes on two strips of differentcolored materials side by side and, if giving to each window-shade a dado of two colors, (which colors may also be different,) I produce at one complete revolution of the carriers A and B six window-shades, each with a differ- 9o ent design and different-colored dado, and

on two colors of material, and by changing the feed-cam Iam able to print any number of colors before feeding, consistent with the number of sides on the carriers, which may be two or more, according to the quality of printing required.

Fig. 9 shows a strip of material as fed through the machine arranged as shown in Fig. 2, with a feed-cam for two colors, and, as roo will be seen, three different designs and colors may be obtained on one strip of material.

In Fig. 1 is shown one of the grooved cams, m, which gives reciprocating motions to the carrier B and pad 0. Fig. 1 also shows one pair of the connecting-rods, a 0, which have 5 studs and rolls .n adapted to work in the grooved cams m, said connecting-rods being made to straddle the shaft A, and having one end sliding through guide-pieces on the frames D D and the other ends attached to pad 0 I0 and carrier B, respectively.

Rubber springs B B are placed under the sliding boxes B B on carrier B, and similar ones, '0 under pad 0, above its bearings 0 0 so as to relieve the shock when the motion is I 5 reversed.

B is a projection on the sliding bearing-box B of carrier B. Said projection is provided with asliding pin, B, its inner end being tapered, as shown in Fig. 4, and adaptedto enter holes B" in the sides of carrier B, one hole for each flat side, which pin is held out of engagement by means of a spring, B and forced in by an incline, B, on the inside of the frame, as shown in said Fig. 4, and by this 2 5 device the carrier B is locked and released by its own travel back and forth as it is intermittently caused to revolve, it being necessary that the carrier B should be locked at the moment of delivering the color to the printingblocks on carrier A.

The sectional elevation in Fig. 2 shows the feeding mechanism and material as arranged for printing bands or Japanese designs, covering nearly or quite. the entire window-shade, 5 as shown in the central part of Fig. 9.

In Fig. 2, A is a hollow projection on the inside of the frame, in which is located the sliding pin A having tapering end adapted to "enter corresponding holes, A, in the head of 0 carrier A, for the purpose of securely looking it while the printing-blocks are receiving the colors and when giving their impressions. The pin A is caused to slide in and out by the action of the grooved cam A on the shaft 6, which operates aprojection, A on the sliding pin A as shown in said Fig. 2, as the carriers are intermittently caused to revolve.

The pad 0 is ametal case covered with any soft elastic material, G-such as feltor flannel and said case is made hollow to admit hot air, steam, or water; but in the present instance it is represented as using steam. The vertical stems G C are hollow, and made so as to slide up and down in the stationary bearings O 0 As the pad reciprocate-s, the steam enters one of them, and, as it condenses, the steamtrap 0 (shown on one of the bearings) takes care of the water. The connecting-pipes to both stems O G are flexible tubing or hose.

The mechanism for intermittently revolving the carriers A and B is shown in Fig. 3, in which the carrier B is shown fast on its shaft B, as is also its ratchet-wheel E, the pawl E of which is pivoted to the frame and held by a spring, E in contact with the said ratchet wheel E.

E is a stationary stop on the frame, to regulate and define the throw of the pawl E. By these means an intermittent .rotary motion is imparted to the carrier B as it reciprocates to and from the carrier A.

The carrier A is free to revolve on its shaft A, but has attached to "its head a ratchet, F, as shown.

F is a rod, one end of which is secured to the sliding bearing B of the carrier B, and passes through guide-pieces on the frame. On the upper end of the rod F is pivoted a pawl, F ,-held. properly by a spring and stop attached to the rod in a similar manner as here tofore described in relation to carrier B. The motion back and forth of the latter causes the pawl F to engage with the ratchet F on car--.

rier A, and thus causes said carrier A to intermittently revolvein the proper time. The looping-up or hanging mechanism G (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3) is the same as commonly used by wall-paper manufacturers.

I11 Figs. 7 and 8 are represented the ma- Chine-printing blocks as arranged in sections H H H and H H, by which means window shades of different lengths and widths can be printed from one set of blocks, and without changing the design, simply by taking from or adding sections of the block, which is a great advantage in blocks for machine-printing, as it gives them a much greater range of useful-' ness without adding much to their cost.

D D represent the frames of the machine, providedwith suitable bearings for the reception of the various shafts heretofore described.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows: A roll, K, of the material to be printed on is suspended in bearings K K on one side of the machine. The material K passes in between friction-rolls L L on the side of the pressure-pad O, thence across said pad and between one of the feed-rolls and its ICO friction-wheels, asheretofore described, which arerevolved together and are caused to intermittently revolve and feed the material along by the mechanism heretofore described. Gommencing with the pad 0 at the bottom of its stroke, the carrier B would be at the top of its stroke, and the elastic cushion Z) on the latter would be pressed against the opposite printing-block, a, on the carrier A, and thus transfer the color to the latter. action of the grooved cams m m, the carrier B- quickly recedes and remains at rest at the end of its stroke, when the color is applied and evenly distributed on the uppermost cushion W, of the same. As the carrier B recedes, the carrier A quickly revolves far enough to bring its printing-block a, on which the color has just been transferred, to the bottom, or directly over the material to be printed on the pressure-pad O, which advances toward carrier A as the carrier B recedes. When the pad 0 is advanced to the end of its stroke, it has pressed the material to be printed on against the printing-block a, and receives a corresponding impression of the same. As pad 0 recedes, carrier B advances and revolves far Th rough the IIO enough to bring cushion b in position to transfer the color to the printing-block c and so on until the number of impressions required are given, when, as the pad 0 recedes, the material automatically feeds along the length or more or less of a shade, as the case may require, for printing either bands or dadoes or other designs.

It will be seen that when the color is applied the elastic cushion on the carrier B is in a perfectly level position, and remains so until it is being advanced, when it revolves far enough to bring the cushion in the proper position to transfer the color to the printing-block opposite; also, that the printing-block, as soon as it has received its color, is revolved far enough to bring it level in a position to give the impression to the material. The object of arranging the cushions and blocks to be operated in the aforesaid manner is so as to keep the color in a level position, so it will not run to one side, and at the proper working speed of the machine this is fully accomplished.

The feed device may be caused, by a suitable number of points on the cam d, to revolve and feed the material to be printed on between any number of impressions consistent with the number of sides on the carriers A and B, according to the number of colors desired to be applied to the material. By this arrangement several styles of shades may be printed on the same roll of material from one set of printingblocks simply by causing the material to feed along after different numbers of impressions. This is obviously a great advantage in a machine for printing in colors. I also cause pressure-pad O to be hot, by steam or otherwise, which 'makes the colors dry quickly and allows of running the machine at a faster speed. As fast as the material is printed on it is, by suitable mechanism, looped up on an overhead railway or looping-machine, under which are lines of steam-pipes, and passes away from the machine a sufficient distance or length of travel to insure its being perfectly dry before it reaches the-feed-rolls or an automatic shearing-machine, which cuts it off into the proper lengths of shades.

In printing shades which are to have more or less of their pattern in gold or silver bronze, the drying of the other colors must be efiected before the bronzing. The size which is to carry the bronze is made especially for this purpose, and when the colors which have been printed are entirely dry the size, printed also at the same operation, is just in the proper condition to take and firmly hold the bronze. This is put on in a separate machine with many brushes, (and will form subject-matter for another application for patent,) into which the material passes continuously from the Y printing-machine after it has gone through its on the shearing-machine, which cuts it offinto shades ready to be rolled up into pairs.

As far as I am aware, ornamental printed window-shades in oil-colors have only been successfully produced by hand labor. On account of the cheapness of said window-shades, handsome designs of many colors have been too expensive; but with my improved machine and method of manufacture I am able to produce cheap window-shades having a very fine and rich appearance of elaborate designs and artistic paintings in many colors.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular mechanical devices for operating the several parts of the .machine, or to any particular number of sides on'the carriers, or to this particular manner of arranging and operating them, as all may be changed without decushions by hand or by suitable machinery,

and the colors may be blended, if so desired, on the material printed on by arranging the printing-blocks so as to overlap each other.

What I claim is 1. In a color-printing machine, in combina tion, the vertically-reciprocating pad G, the intermittently-revolving printing-block carrier A above it, the intermittently-revolvin g colorcarrier B, reciprocating at an angle thereto, and the intermittently-feeding mechanism operating to feed the material horizontally thereon, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a color-printing machine, in combination, the frame. D, the shaft A therein, the printing-block carrier A on said shaft, the vertically-reciprocating pad 0, the shaft B, the color-carrier B thereon and reciprocating at an angle, as described, the cams m m, the connecting-rods n n o 0, and mechanism, substan: tially as described, whereby the carriers A and B are intermittently revolved, as set forth.

3. In a color-printing machine, the recipro eating pad 0 and intermittently revolving printing-block carrier A, combined with the reciprocating and intermittently revolving color-carrier B, and the mechanism, substantially as described, for alternately locking and unlocking said carriers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a color-printing machine, the combination of the frame D, the shaft A therein, the cams m m on said shaft, the connectingrods 0 0, the shaft B", the color-carrier B there on, the ratchet E on said carrier, and the pawl E, pivoted on the frame D, all substantially as shown and described, whereby the carrier B is intermittently reciprocated and revolved, as set forth.

5. In a color-printing machine, the two sets of feed-rolls and friction-wheels geared together at right angles to each other, combined with the mechanism, substantially as described, for intermittently revolving thennwhereby the ICO material to be printed upon may be fed either lengthwise or crosswise of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a color-printing machine, the inter- 1nittently-revolving printing-block carrier A, the vertically-reciprocating pad 0 beneath it, and the color-cushion carrier B,rcciprocating at an angle thereto, in combination with the cams m on and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said cams alternately reciprocate said carrier B and pad 0, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a color-printing machine, the vertically-reciprocating pad 0, with the intermittentlyrevolving printingblock carrier A above it, and the intermittently revolving and reciprocating color-cushion carrier B,reciproeating at an angle thereto, all arranged and operating substantially as described, whereby the color is applied to the color-cushion and also applied to the material on the pad 0 while both said cushion and theprinting-block; are in a perfectly-level position, as and for the purpose setfort-h.

8. The reciprocating color-carrier B, its attached rod F, and pawl F thereon, in combination with the ratchet F and carrier A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The carrier A and the holes A therein, combined with the frame D, sliding pin A therein, its operating-cam A, and shaft e, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The carrier B and the holes 13* therein, combined with the sliding box B B, sliding pin 13' therein, spring B and incline B on the frame D, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a color-printing machine, theframes D D, the shafts A B and the cams on m, in combination with the connecting-rods n n 0 0,

adapted to be operated'bysaid cams, as denature in presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL E. KEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, HENRY GHADBOURN.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig- 1 

